JuiceBlendz International

This article appeared in The Herald on November 13th, 2005

Juice Bar's Tops In A Squeeze

By Yvonne Carey
Special to The Herald

Now the thirsty and health-conscious can stop at JUICEBLENDZ in the Weston Commons shopping center and squeeze value out of a dollar at the inexpensive juice bar. "Most juice bars use frozen fruit. We use only fresh fruit, no artificial sweeteners, and we only use the high-end supplements," said owner and founder Adam Ogden, a native South Floridian who is an experienced nutritionist and fitness buff.

Ogden said along with pure ingredients, JUICEBLENDZ also offers its own line of products for weight maintenance and a unique line of merchandise, like wheat grass shot glasses. John Kelly, 38, of Weston, stopping for a smoothie, said he has become a regular customer. "Their prices are good. It's convenient," Kelly said. "I stop in five days a week." Ogden gained experience with his HealthStop stores in Tallahassee, opened in 1997, where he sold nutritional supplements and smoothies, formulating his own line of supplements. Recently, he sold HealthStop and moved his family and companies back to South Florida. Ogden said JUICEBLENDZ, whose motto is "The perfect blend of taste and health," intends to become a regular fixture in the community by getting active, just like its clients. "We've already participated in events like the YMCA health fair. We intend to support as many healthy kids' events in Weston as we can. Kids here want to drink smoothies too," Ogden said. Ogden said in order to entice kids to drink healthy, JUICEBLENDZ has a complete line of smoothies on its plasma screen smoothie menu just for them in cool, kid-friendly flavors such as Chunky Monkey (chocolate, bananas, peanut butter, skim milk and ice cream) or Smarty Pantz (strawberries, bananas, pineapples and apple juice). And for the adults, the vast menu includes choices like Hangover Healer (fresh-squeezed orange juice, bananas, strawberries, Multiplex and Glycerol); Baywatch Body (raspberries, strawberries, bananas and Soyplex); Kokomo (coconut, pineapples, bananas, coconut sherbet and honey); and Einstein (IQ-raising combo of strawberries, bananas, pineapple, apple juice and Ginkgoplex). In addition to the Weston store, JUICEBLENDZ is opening stores in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Miami. Ogden plans to open more than 50 within the next five years. For now, the Weston store will act as their flagship.

IF YOU GO

What: JUICEBLENDZ
Where: Weston Commons shopping center, 4533 Weston Rd.
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F and 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday<
Information: Call 866-525-3639 (JBLENDZ) or visit www.juiceblendz.com.